Old Clothes Become Building Materials

A Czech social cooperative has patented a groundbreaking process that transforms unusable old textiles into durable building panels. This innovation not only reduces waste but also supports a circular economy in construction.

Turning Old Clothes into Sustainable Construction Panels

Diakonie Broumov has developed an innovative way to convert unused old textiles into building materials. This idea, recently patented, could significantly contribute to waste reduction and sustainability.

Collection and Sorting of Clothing

For over 30 years, Diakonie Broumov has collected used clothing in around a thousand containers across the Czech Republic. The clothing is sorted and reused in their facilities in Broumov, East Bohemia. However, about 15% of the collected clothes cannot be reused and end up in landfills or incineration plants. The management of this social cooperative decided to change that.

Producing Building Materials from Old Clothing

With this new idea, old clothes could soon become construction materials. The process involves shredding the unusable textiles, mixing them with a binder, and pressing the mixture under high pressure and temperature. The result is panels with a protective coating on both sides, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials.

Benefits for the Environment and Society

Introducing this technology could not only reduce textile waste but also create a new income source for Diakonie Broumov. Pavel Hendrichovský, chairman of Diakonie, explained that this approach adds extra value for society while protecting the environment.

Similar Textile Recycling Projects Worldwide

Similar initiatives exist globally. For example, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland, together with Texaid and Coop, launched the Texcycle research project. Its aim is to recycle low-quality textiles into high-quality products such as carpet yarn and fleece for acoustic insulation materials.

Researchers at Lucerne University have also developed methods to process old textiles into yarn and fleece for carpets and insulation materials, potentially used for soundproofing interiors and facades.

These projects demonstrate global efforts to develop innovative solutions for textile reuse, supporting sustainability and the circular economy in the construction sector.

-- Discover how FCC Environment CEE promotes a circular economy in waste management and resource recovery.

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